2012 Acura MDX review notes: A three-row luxury SUV stalwart

August 14, 2012

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NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The 2012 Acura MDX is a classy SUV with respectable power and a bit of space inside. Using it for a commuter lap, I unfortunately didn’t make full use of its potential, but I’ll leave that to members of the staff with offspring of the two- and four-legged variety.

I was impressed with the six-cylinder engine. It didn’t strike me until I merged a few lanes over and jabbed the throttle, producing a pleasing sound and decent acceleration as I trailed in the wake of a Chevy Camaro convertible. I played with the paddles a bit, too. They were fun, amusing for a good-sized crossover, but not exactly Formula One-inspired. They’re just something to spice up the drive into work and summon the revs a bit more purposefully on the expressway.

The cabin of the MDX is impressive in appearance and execution. This sampler came in stately black inside, and the steering wheel and door panels were smart. The atmosphere was quiet and serene, with just a bit of wind and exterior noise getting in. The negative? I’m not a fan of the center stack, which has way too many buttons and is confusing. It’s hard to get used to in a short period and not easy to operate at a glance. MIT-inspired controls are not my preference at expressway speeds.

I may be the only journalist in America who actually likes the big, bold grille. Perhaps that’s because I like 1940s and ’50s trains, and that’s what the front end of this crossover looks like to me. The side panels are clean and crisp, and with the big wheels, it cuts an impressive silhouette. It’s decent crossover.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR DAVID ARNOUTS: Despite having the controversial “power plenum” Acura beak/grille, the exterior of this SUV looks more buttoned together and blended into a cohesive element than the last MDX we had in here.

Inside the ute, things are congruent with the exterior appearance. The LED lighting illuminates the black interior nicely without showing too many flaws, as abundant light tends to do. I was surprised it had three rows of seating. I would think Acura might be better off selling it as two rows with ample storage space than trying to kid people about being able to haul six or seven people. I suppose you could if they were small enough though.

As Greg pointed out, the center stack is a bit overwhelming and isn’t something you can jump right into unless you are familiar with the Acura brand. There are too many buttons in places you wouldn’t expect them.

Power was decent and provided more than enough to handle the daily commute with a mix of highway and city driving. The all-wheel drive is not a noticeable feature but would be a great thing to have when the snow flies here in Michigan.

This, like many other SUVs and crossovers, has a sport mode with paddle-shifters, which I find quite funny. There is no need for a sport mode in this vehicle. Seriously. You are only kidding yourself. If you want something sporty, buy an Italian sports car to try and impressive the blonde at the red light, not the more than two-ton crossover SUV with the beak grille.

Regardless, it’s a well-enough ute that has good marks all around.

SENIOR ONLINE EDITOR RORY CARROLL: Hmm. The interior of the Acura MDX is very well put together and comfortable. As mentioned, the center stack is a little cluttered, but the navigation system and the Bluetooth functions were unusually easy to use.

Like every car in this segment, power was adequate and the handling well suited to everyday highway cruising and running around town. The paddle shifters are more than a little ridiculous.

Aside from the beak, the styling is taut, if somewhat unremarkable.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Even with a new MDX expected to appear sometime next year, the current model is still my favorite three-row SUV. With our 2008 MDX long-termer, we piled more than 30,000 miles onto it, it never missed a day of service because of mechanical issue and the cabin held up remarkably well.

I continue to believe that this V6 and six-speed automatic transmission combination is one of (if not the) smoothest drivetrain combination in the SUV class. When you light-foot it around town, it’s quiet, with the transmission performing seamless shifts. And like Greg mentioned, it has a surprisingly nice exhaust note during wide-open throttle to unleash decent power for merging onto the expressway and passing slower traffic.

The magnetic suspension is cushy in comfort mode for a soft ride around town and more roll around corners, but tightens in sport mode. Of course, a high-riding 4,600-pound vehicle isn’t going to take a corner like a sports car, but all things considered, it can round an expressway entrance ramp quite well. Steering has some weight tuned and responds well to inputs. Brakes feature good bite and slow things down without drama.

I suppose the best compliment you can give a large vehicle is that it drives smaller than it is. Maneuvering around parking lots is done with ease, and the backup camera is handy. I also think Acura’s blind-spot warning displays are the best in the business, with the warning inside the cabin instead of outside on the mirror itself or on the side of the mirror housing like Audi’s is.

Complaints about the MDX’s button-laden center stack are expected, but I prefer buttons over having the majority of functions being controlled by an iDrive-like knob. It’s kind of like your home entertainment remote control that has a billion buttons on it, but you eventually get used to it and pick up on how to control the cable box, DVR, DVD player, speaker system and TV. It’s the same thing with the MDX’s center stack—you’ll get acclimated to it and will be a pro at working through it before long.

The rest of the interior is nice, with quality materials, good-looking wood trim, soft leathers and one of the most comfortable front bucket seats you’ll find in a luxury SUV.

As for complaints, I do have one. The navigation map in Acura vehicles is really outdated. While Audi has Google Maps images, Acura is still slogging along with the same beige background image that’s in the Wong family’s 2004 MDX. Kind of disappointing, but I’m sure updates are in the works--at least I hope they are.

2012 Acura MDX Advance with Entertainment Package

Base Price: $55,450

As-Tested Price: $55,450

Drivetrain: 3.7-liter V6; AWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 300 hp @ 6,300 rpm, 270 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm

Curb Weight: 4,627 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 18/19.6 mpg

Options: None

For more information: Check out the 2012 Acura MDX Advance with Entertainment Package at shopautoweek.com